Controlled trial with interferon alfa 2-b in chronic hepatitis C patients

Thirty-eight chronic hepatitis C (CHC) Egyptian patients with persistently elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for 6 months were randomly allocated into 2 groups: Group I (19 patients) received 3 million units (MU) of interferon alpha - 2b (Intron-A) subcutaneously thrice weekly for 6 months. In group I, complete response (normalization of ALT by the end of treatment) was achieved in 8 patients (42.1%), partial response (decrease of ALT by at least 50% of the pretreatment values) in 7 patients (36.8%) and no response in 4 (21.1%). Sustained response for 6 months after the end of therapy was attained in 4 of the 8 (50%) complete responders. Thus attaining an overall sustained response in 4 of the 19 patients (21.1%). In group II, spontaneous normalization of ALT was established in 1 patient (5.3%). Repeat liver biopsies in 16 patients of the interferon group, revealed moderate improvement in the degree of lobular inflammation, hepatocyte necrosis and portal inflammation. We conclude from this study that treatment of CHC with 3 MU of IFN-alfa 2b thrice weekly for 6 months is associated with a low response rate (21.1%). To improve the results, escalation of the IFN dose and/or prolongation of the treatment period should be considered.